The Earshot Jazz Festival kicked off with a bang last night at Seattle Town Hall, and let me tell you, it was a party up in there. At times it felt like you were in a club in the Big Easy. 

Playing mostly their own compositions, The Skerik & Ahamefule J. Oluo Ensemble delivered a genre-bending performance that effortlessly moved through New Orleans jazz, rock, post-bop, and funk. Ahamefule J. Oluo’s trumpet work ranged from soft and subtle to piercingly clear, occasionally dipping into gutsy growls. Skerik, this year’s Festival Resident Artist, brought soulful, searing saxophone lines that he’s honed over the years playing with artist like Fred Wesley, Ani DiFranco, REM, and Pearl Jam.

At one point, singer Phinehas M Nyang’oro was invited on stage, bringing a little bit of reggae with him as he covered Bob Marley’s “So Much Trouble in the World.” But not before he electrified the crowd with his take on Gnarls Barkley funky hit “Crazy.”

The ensemble delivers

Jason Cressey was a stand out on trombone, while the rhythm section kept the groove locked tight. D’Vonne Lewis, a high in-demand drummer in Seattle circles, provided steady beats, as Marina Christopher (a past winner of Earshot Magazine’s Emerging Artist of the Year) showed off her chops swinging on the bass. At points, Josh Rawlings channeled the spirit of a B3 organ through his Nord Stage 2 keyboard, which hit perfectly during the funky rendition of Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy.”

The evening took on added significance with John Gilbreath’s recent retirement announcement. With Gilbreath kicking off the night’s proceedings, Oluo couldn’t help but share a touching anecdote about Gilbreath helping him get booked at a festival after receiving his demo at age 19 – a pivotal moment in Oluo’s career.

From start to finish, the kickoff captured the essence of Earshot Jazz: spontaneity, collaboration, and the thrill of musical exploration. If this opening night is any indication, Seattle jazz lovers are in for a treat as the Earshot Jazz Festival continues.

The Earshot Jazz Festival runs through November 3. You can find more information on the fest here.